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Alex Smith: 'It sucks' to lose San Francisco 49ers' starting quarterback job
mercurynews.com ^ | 11/29/2012 | Cam Inman

Posted on 11/30/2012 10:32:42 AM PST by AmericanSamurai

SANTA CLARA -- Alex Smith got right to the point Thursday.

"It sucks," he said. "I don't know what else to say."

Speaking for the first time since 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh confirmed Colin Kaepernick's "hot hand" would start at quarterback Sunday at St. Louis, the demoted Smith appeared agitated over once again losing a job that's repeatedly been swiped from his grasp since he was drafted first overall in 2005.

"I feel the only thing I did to lose my job was get a concussion," said Smith, who sustained that brain trauma Nov. 11 during the second quarter of a 24-24 tie with the Rams.

Smith did not, however, blast Harbaugh's communication methods.

"We sat down and talked. It wasn't a one-sentence thing," Smith said. "He explained where he was coming from, felt it was a difficult situation but wanted to go in this direction."

Did Smith try to talk Harbaugh out of starting Kaepernick for a third straight game?

"No, I mean at this point, what's talk going to do?" Smith responded. "I felt he made up his mind. He's not a guy who didn't put thought into it already."

In his last full outing, Smith completed 18 of 19 passes in a 24-3 win at Arizona, earning him a first-career NFC Offensive Player of the Week award. Dating back to halftime of an Oct. 18 win over Seattle, Smith is 35 of 38 for 385 yards with five touchdowns and one interception.

"It's tough. You state your case with your play, and I feel I've done that," said Smith, who leads the NFL with a 70.0 completion percentage and ranks fifth with a 104.1 passer rating.

(Excerpt) Read more at mercurynews.com ...


TOPICS: Sports
KEYWORDS: 49ers; athletes; chat; nfl; sports
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To: SparkyBass
We’ll take him!

Signed “still missing Kurt Warner in Arizona”


Funny you should mention Kurt Warner, who got HIS starting job after Rodney Harrison maimed Trent Green in a preseason game. Green lost his job 'cause Warner had a great season and won the Super Bowl. He stuck around for a year as backup, showing he could run the Greatest Show on Turf when Warner got injured the following season, before starting for the rst of his career in KC.

Go back a couple decades plus, and Pat Haden was injured pitching a shutout (24-0) against the Seahawks in what would become one of the greatest defensive shutdowns of ALL TIME. (Seahawk total yardage, -8 yards). Vince Ferragamo went in, and led the Rams to their first Super Bowl, putting in a creditable performance. Haden never regained his status.

Signed, Rams fan still missing Kurt Warner ... and London Fletcher
21 posted on 11/30/2012 11:08:44 AM PST by Dr. Sivana (There is no salvation in politics.)
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To: SparkyBass
I'm a Jet fan.

We have a Sanchez and a broken Tebow.

We'll take anyone.

22 posted on 11/30/2012 11:09:44 AM PST by wideawake
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To: TonyInOhio

How about, “They pay me seven figures whether I can play or not. How sweet is that?”

<><><><><

So you want him to act like a a-hole instead?


23 posted on 11/30/2012 11:10:39 AM PST by dmz
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To: dmz
So you want him to act like a a-hole instead?

No, not at all. He's a grown man, a well-paid grown man. Grown men don't whine to reporters. Some things are best kept between an employee and his boss.

24 posted on 11/30/2012 11:13:46 AM PST by TonyInOhio
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To: wideawake

Same thought I had.


25 posted on 11/30/2012 11:14:44 AM PST by Lee'sGhost (Johnny Rico picked the wrong girl!)
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To: Mashood
Alex Smith: You suck.

In his last full outing, Smith completed 18 of 19 passes in a 24-3 win at Arizona, earning him a first-career NFC Offensive Player of the Week award.

What the hell more is the guy supposed to do? Frankly I do feel bad for Alex. He just can't seem to catch a break. For the fisrt few years of his career he was put back into the the game while still injured, never had the same offensive coordinator two years in a row, and played for some awful coaches. So he finally gets some good management, takes the team to the NFC Championship game last year, has them 6-2 this year and loses his starting job due to getting a concussion? I don't think it's whining to say that sucks, because it does.

26 posted on 11/30/2012 11:15:11 AM PST by Hugin ("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)
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To: TonyInOhio

Exactly, Smith will never be able to live this down with Coach Harbaugh. The only way Smith will get his starting job back is if Colin has a complete meltdown.


27 posted on 11/30/2012 11:16:20 AM PST by AmericanSamurai
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To: Hugin

Unfortunately, that is exactly Smith’s problem, he just isn’t very exciting. He’s the Wally Cleaver of NFL QB’s.


28 posted on 11/30/2012 11:18:24 AM PST by AmericanSamurai
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To: AmericanSamurai
I have no problem with a guy losing his spot due to injury. This is a meritocracy. The better man plays. The issue is that if guys think they'll lose their spot if they 'only' have a concussion, they will be less likely to report the symptoms.

Bottom line: Smith will not be in SF next season. He'll be starting for another team. And he'll be fine. Unless his O-line sucks.

29 posted on 11/30/2012 11:19:23 AM PST by thefactor (yes, as a matter of fact, i DID only read the excerpt)
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To: TonyInOhio

Harbaugh is going to screw himself up big time going with Kapernick....The kid has talent, but is inexperienced and will make some critical mistakes in the playoffs...not that Alex Smith won’t, but Harbaugh is being very arrogant and short sighted turning this thing over to Kaperinick....and yes...Capt Comeback is even a bigger jerk as a coach than he was as a player...that’s saying a lot...


30 posted on 11/30/2012 11:20:47 AM PST by usafa92 (Conservative in Jersey)
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To: usafa92

I think he’s trying to redeem “Da Bears” image as head coach for the 49ers after his unsuccessful predecessor. :P


31 posted on 11/30/2012 11:23:24 AM PST by AmericanSamurai
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To: AmericanSamurai
He’s the Wally Cleaver of NFL QB’s.

Maybe he should get some tats and start fighting pitbulls.

32 posted on 11/30/2012 11:25:49 AM PST by Hugin ("Most times a man'll tell you his bad intentions, if you listen and let yourself hear."---Open Range)
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To: spel_grammer_an_punct_polise

Are you sure about that? According to Wiki, “ Kaepernick received his lone football scholarship offer from the University of Nevada”. He was a redshirt freshman there.


33 posted on 11/30/2012 11:27:05 AM PST by stop_fascism (Love your country, but never trust its government - R.A. Heinlein)
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To: wideawake

The Jets have a much larger issue than just a QB. It’s called Rex Ryan.

Took his players a couple of years to figure it out, but they are free to run amuck and he can’t or won’t do anything about it.

Except tell us how he’s gonna fix it. And tell Bart not to say mean things about Jets fans.

Down here in Ravensland, he was not really thought of as head coach material. But I can’t really nya nya nya until our Harbaugh and Flacco win the big ‘un. And no, that’s not a prediction.


34 posted on 11/30/2012 11:28:44 AM PST by dmz
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To: AmericanSamurai

The headline is rather misleading. The reporter asked him how he felt about not starting, and his reply was, “it sucks,” and that he’d rather play. Smith also went on to say he’s in favor of whatever helps the team win.

Smith isn’t being a prick about this... he’s handing this situation rather well. While it is a difficult situation, it just so happened that the Niners have a guy out there.. Kaepernick.. who brings a more aggressive game plan.

Smith has rolled up what — for him — have been great statistics. But the key is what happens when you’re placed against a team that brings heat. It wasn’t Kaepernick who QB’d the Niners to a 26-3 loss to the Giants or to that earler loss to the Vikes. Smith is a decent quarterback with moderate-to-good pro-level abilities and middling arm strength and scrambling ability. Harbaugh has done an incredible job rehabilitating him and bringing him up to the level he is. But the unfortunate circumstance of Smith’s concussion opened up an opportunity to see what else is out there. And Harbaugh sees Kaepernick as the guy with the ability to take it further.

This situation would’ve been so much easier had Smith’s stats been in the doldrums like past years, but... it’s the pros... and sometimes circumstances do indeed suck.


35 posted on 11/30/2012 11:30:44 AM PST by ScottinVA (I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)
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To: AmericanSamurai

I don’t see any bad guys in this scenario at all, it’s just the way things turned out. What’s Smith supposed to say, “Oh, it’s cool getting benched cuz I get paid anyway”. He didn’t rag on Harbaguh (whining) he just said it sucks, which I would expect any competitor to say. Harbaugh is doing what he thinks is best for the team. When Harbaugh was playing here in Indianapolis he was always a class act. Football is a business and life isn’t always fair. I wouldn’t be suprised to see Smith starting at Qb for a different team next year, so just like Brees, he’ll probably get a second chance to win the big one with another team.


36 posted on 11/30/2012 11:32:40 AM PST by circlecity
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To: usafa92
Capt Comeback is even a bigger jerk as a coach than he was as a player...that’s saying a lot...

Not sure how you've come to that conclusion... the Niner players like and respect Harbaugh.

37 posted on 11/30/2012 11:33:12 AM PST by ScottinVA (I've never been more disgusted with American voters.)
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To: AmericanSamurai

Jerry Jones pick up the white phone. Pedestrian describes Romo and Sanchez.

(caveat I am not a Cowboy fan)


38 posted on 11/30/2012 11:33:24 AM PST by Resolute Conservative
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To: Mashood

not so much this year,,, but yeah
a little competition should make them better.
L O L


39 posted on 11/30/2012 11:34:25 AM PST by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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To: Mashood

not so much this year,,, but yeah
a little competition should make them better.
L O L


40 posted on 11/30/2012 11:34:40 AM PST by ßuddaßudd (>> F U B O << "What the hell kind of country is this if I can only hate a man if he's white?")
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